So, there were so many of you who needed the nice white men, that they gave up. Ha. So, long chapter. And I hope you like it. However, if you are going to complain about anything, PM me so we can discuss it. I hate getting reviews that tell me 'I think…' insert negative thought. Anywho, I think you will like it. And, I've tried to keep it realistic. And don't worry, there will be bumps along this road. Ha. That's a pun.

And anyone who read the one-shot I wrote… yeah, song-fics aren't my strong suite, and I would have felt bad if I didn't write it, so… don't hate me too bad for writing that.

Chapter 10:

A few weeks later, Caitlyn and I came home from school to find envelopes with our names on them sitting on the kitchen table. Seeing that they were from Berklee, we quickly opened them. We couldn't wait to see the results.

We screamed and started jumping up and down. "Oh my god, we got in!" We yelled together, seeing the huge smiles on the other's face.

"I can't believe it." I screamed.

"Oh my god!" Caitlyn yelled back. We quickly sent the guys texts to go find one another and call one of us.

A few minutes later, Caitlyn's phone rang. Instead of answering hello, we screamed, "We got in!"

We heard ow's followed by congratulations.

"We are totally taking you out to dinner this weekend!" Jason said happily.

"Ooh. Saturday." I demanded.

Caitlyn agreed. "Oh, yeah. So Stas can come."

"Definitely!" Jason cried.

"Okay, well I was in the shower and still have suds in me hair, so… we'll call you later." Nate said.

"Later." We replied.

We attacked Dad when he came in from work later that night, and Mom as well. They were both very proud of us.

Dinner with Anastasia was so much fun. It finally felt like it had way back when. It was really cute to watch Jason attached to her hip, too.

Nate felt utterly inspired and decided to give a heart felt speech in the middle of dinner. He lifted his glass to all of us. "In the last year and a half, we've been through so much together. We've survived a tour, we've survived horrible press, we've survived break ups, and make-ups. We've all had our fair share of fights. We've survived friends and girlfriends going away to college. We've survived car accidents and through it all, we've become so much closer. This-" He looked around at all of us. "This is who we are supposed to be with forever. Not just our girlfriends and boyfriends. No, our friends. Our family. The six of us. Friends for life." He raised his glass even higher.

"Friends for life!" We all called out to him afterwards.

"Where'd that come form?" Anastasia teased.

He smiled. "You. Seriously, Stas, we've missed you. It wasn't the same while you were gone. But also the fact that now the girls are definitely leaving us for 4 years. It's a reality check. We need to make sure nothing breaks us apart."

I smiled. "Nothing ever will." I said confidently.

Caitlyn agreed. "Too bad we aren't old enough, otherwise I'd say 'Now, we get drunk!'" We all laughed and enjoyed the rest of the night, though not drunk.

Three weeks flew by after that and it was finally my birthday. Shane had been acting oddly, but I assumed it had to do with my birthday surprise. Last time he was this odd he bought me Jacob. My baby wasn't a puppy anymore, though. He was now a year old and his full size. Oh well, he was still cute and adorable and ours.

Once again, we were partying twice this year. My family party, of course. But the guys decided I needed a 'proper' 18th birthday party. They argued that we'd thrown Anastasia and Caitlyn huge parties and now it was my turn, despite my protests. The only difference this year was the family party was the day after instead of the other party.

"You should curl your hair for tonight." Shane commented, while he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

I smiled and turned in them. "I thought I wasn't allowed to?" I teased.

He looked down at me. "It's your birthday, you should look absolutely, amazingly beautiful." He kissed me softly. "More than you normally do."

"So, does that mean you'll take a shower before we go to bed tonight?" I asked. "Since it's my birthday and all."

"If you want my hair curly, sure." He agreed.

"Well, I'm going to kick you out of my room now, so I can go shower and everything if I'm curling my hair." He pouted momentarily before his eyes light up. "No, you can't join me."

He laughed slightly. "Not what I was going to say. Do you trust me to pick out your outfit?"

I eyed him carefully. "Depends. Do I get final veto power?"

He shook his head no. "Caitlyn does." He offered.

I shrugged. "I suppose. Nothing slutty." I warned.

"Do you even own anything slutty?" He asked as I walked away.

I smirked at him over my shoulder. "You've seen the stuff Stas has made me buy." I reminded him. "You never know."

I laughed as he mumbled. 30 minutes later, I turned off the shower and pulled on my big fluffy towel. I was mildly worried Shane was in the room still, but the number of times we'd seen each other practically naked in the last year was too many to be worried.

Thankfully he wasn't, though, and had laid my outfit out on my bed. Next to it was scribbled a note. Yes, I know half of this is Caitlyn's. But, she approved of it, so, deal. Love you.

I shook my head as I looked down. A black skirt and white button down shirt that were mine laid next to a black vest and a fedora, which were Caitlyn's. The sleeves of my shirt were rolled up to the elbows. I shook my head as I began to get dressed.

While I was curling my hair, Caitlyn came in not ready for the party at all. She was wearing jeans that I was fairly certain were actually Shane's and one of Nate's t-shirts.

"Here." She handed me a pair of peep-toe heels and a pair of black pantyhose. "And you are to wear you're my red choker." She tossed it to me.

"Why aren't you ready yet?" I asked, pulling the last curl out.

She winked at me and disappeared back out of our room. I shook my head but finished getting dressed nonetheless. My best friend and boyfriend were plotting something, I could tell.

I headed downstairs when I finished getting ready. Shane was coming in with Jacob as I reached the middle of the steps. He looked up at me and smiled brightly. "Wow. You look amazing." He complimented.

I smiled. "You don't look so bad yourself. Is there are reason we match?" I asked. He was wearing black dress pants and a white dress shirt as well. A red tie laid loosely around his neck, as always. "Nice suspenders." I teased.

"I thought you'd like them." He smiled, grabbing our coats. It wasn't cold out anymore, but it was still a bit chilly. When he placed his own hat on, I laughed softly to myself. "Everyone else is at the apartment already. We're going to be late, though." He said.

"Why?" I asked.

He smiled and reached for my hand as he started the car. "Because we're gong out to eat first."

I smiled at him. "Dressed like this?" I asked disbelieving.

"Yup." He popped the p on the end of the word.

"Okay, Pop Star."

A little while later, we were at a cute little restaurant in NYC. There was a 40's theme with a modern twist to it. There were other couples and groups spread through out the restaurant, all dressed up like us as well. I assumed the place had a strict dress code or something.

Shane led us to a table in the center of the room, slightly secluded from the others. We talked, laughed and enjoyed dinner. Every now and then, Shane would glance around the room or at his watch.

"What is up with you tonight?" I asked curiously.

"What?" He asked, looking over my shoulder. He smiled. "Dessert's here."

I looked at him confused. "We didn't order dessert." He smiled even brighter as a waiter came up behind me. When the cake was placed in front of me, I gasped. The cake wasn't very big. It was like one of those little Carvel cakes. However, the reason I gasped was because of the writing and the centerpiece of the cake. An open ring box sat in the middle with a beautiful gold band and princess cut diamond staring up at me. Happy Birthday, Mitchie, will you marry me? Was written around cake. I started crying as Shane got down on one knee next to me, taking the ring box out of the cake.

"Mitchie, I was planning on waiting until your birthday next year, but I couldn't hold back anymore. You can totally say no, and I will totally understand. But everyday I'm with you I fall a little bit more in love. And if you say no, I will wait forever for you to say yes." He paused. "Mitchie, will you marry me?"

My hand was covering my mouth as tears of happiness streaked downward. I couldn't speak. I just nodded a lot. Shane eventually pulled me out of my chair and kissed me, spinning me around in happiness.

Applauds and congratulations were called out. When I heard a few familiar voices, I realized that the people in the room were all supposed to be at the guys' apartment.

"Oh my god, what are you all doing here?" I asked hugging all of them.

"Well, we wanted to surprise you, but that wasn't as easily done as it had been with the other two. And Shane couldn't decide if he wanted to propose to you alone or with everyone here." Nate explained.

"So, we managed to compromise. We were all here, you just didn't know it." Caitlyn said happily.

I was almost knocked over in a hug. "Sweet. You are now one step closer to really being my sister." I smiled as I hugged Nicky back. Next I hugged Kevin.

I didn't get to talk to them much, as Mom and Dad appeared next to me, hugging me tightly. "Congratulations, sweetie." Mom said.

"Oh my god, you knew about this?" I asked her.

Mom smiled brightly. "Who do you think helped him pick out the ring?" I looked at Shane who was smiling brightly while talking to my father. "Most parents would be saying 'no, she's too young.' But, when he asked your father and I for our permission and blessing, we didn't even think before saying yes. Sometimes, you just know when you have the one. I mean, you father proposed to me after graduation, and look at us. I know you'll be happy."

"Thanks, Mom." I hugged her tightly. It was then that she started crying.

"My baby's all grown up. She's 18 and engaged." She cried.

I cried a little, too.

"Okay enough of that! Time for cake!" Anastasia said, bringing out a much bigger cake, sans ring and proposal.

As everyone sang, Shane held me from behind. After I blew out my candles, I couldn't help but keep looking at my ring sparkling. It now sat where my promise ring had, which was now on my index finger of my left hand.

"Do you like it?" Shane whispered in my ear.

I looked at him over my shoulder. "I love it. How'd you know?" I asked.

"A little birdy or two might have told me." I shook my head, knowing that Caitlyn and Nicky were behind this.

Thinking of Caitlyn, I looked over at her. She was dress in black dress pants with pinstriped corset over a white dress shirt. "Question. Why was Caitlyn in your pants when she came upstairs?"

Shane smiled. "Because she was already at the apartment dressed to go and didn't have her own clothes with her. But I needed her to come and give you the shoes, so she threw on mine and Nate's clothes so you wouldn't see her dressed the way she was." He explained.

"Oooh." I nodded in understanding. "Thank you. This was an amazing birthday."

"Yeah, I know." He smirked playfully. I shoved him softly. "Let's dance." He pulled me on to the makeshift dance floor that had been made. Most of the tables had been pushed out of the way, but some were left for people to sit and talk.

I spent a good portion of the night dancing happily with my fiancé and my friends and family. That night, the six of us- Nate, Caitlyn, Jason, Anastasia, Shane and myself, that is- all headed back to the apartment. Shane went to take a shower and wash out the restrictive product keeping his curls from me. I was already laying in his bed when he got back into his room.

I had been staring at my ring again. "Shane?" I asked softly.

"Hmm?" He asked, pulling on a pair of boxers under his towel. His back was to me.

"Why are we getting married?" I asked. He froze before quickly finishing getting dressed. He came over to the bed, sitting down.

He looked at me confused. "What do you mean?"

"Why did you propose now? I mean, what's the difference between this," I nodded toward my engagement ring, "And my promise ring?"

He smiled softly. "Because… I don't honestly know. There was just something in me saying don't wait."

"You didn't propose so we could… sooner… did you?" I felt really bad asking that question. I didn't want to accuse him of only proposing so he could get laid sooner, I just wanted to know.

He looked away from me, slightly hurt. "No." He said looking me straight in the eyes. "Mitchie, I wasn't kidding when I said I would wait forever for you to say yes. I just… I want to marry you. Now or in 30 years." I smiled, my own words coming back to me.

"Okay. Now I can be excited again." I smiled. He leaned over and kissed me. It quickly escalated into more. Down side to our newest sleeping attire? Made making out before going to or getting out of bed a lot more frustrating.

He was kissing his way down my neck, nipping lightly. I gasped as he sucked on my collarbone. What really surprised me was when he nipped the skin just above me breast. "Shane." I warned, taking in a sharp intake of breath.

I felt him smirk before the moved back up to my face. "You rang?"

"Behave." I said smiling.

He groaned. "I don't wanna." He pouted. I kissed him quickly, before pushing him off of me. As I switched out positions he groaned again.

The next morning when we woke up, we both were littered in tiny bite marks across our upper bodies.

"12...13, 14... 15..." Shane counted the various marks he'd left the night before. "Damn, I was in a mood last night." He laughed.

I pushed him. "I only left like 7. You left twice as many." I pouted.

He smirked. "Who said I was done counting?" My mouth fell open from shock. I had no idea who he could have possibly left that many. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you to curl your hair."

"Where the heck did you manage to leave so many?" I demanded, jumping out the bed to look in his mirror. "Jesus, Shane." I gasped, seeing all of them. Both sides of my neck were covered as well as various places across my chest and shoulders. Don't worry, my bra never came off.

"You're missing the one on your hip. And don't say the Lord's name in vain." He mock scolded.

"What?!" I exclaimed looking down at my hip, where sure enough there was one. "How the…?"

"Remember when I was 'being a jerk and needed to stop being so mean?'" He quoted me. He decided to kiss down my stomach, teasing me ever so slightly. "Yeah," He said shrugging.

"I can't believe you." I groaned. I picked up his shirt and threw it on. "I have to see my family today. You better hope Stas will cover all of these."

"Turtleneck." He said smirking. I glared at him and headed to take a shower.

When I left the bathroom, I knocked on Jason's door. He opened it sleepily. "Mitchie, why are you only in a towel?" He asked. "And did you get attacked by a vampire or something?"

"Wake your girlfriend up." I said, ignoring his question.

He mumbled something, but woke her up anyway.

"Damn, Shane!" She yelled. I heard Shane laughing from his room. She grabbed her make up bag and took me into the bathroom. By now, Caitlyn had been woken up by all the noise and came in as well.

"Holy- What did you do?" She demanded.

"We didn't have sex." I said firmly.

She laughed at me. "Good luck getting Nicky to believe that with those."

I groaned. "Why am I the only one with a vampire for a boyfriend?" I asked.

Anastasia and Caitlyn shared a look before looking back at me. "Fiancé."

I smiled despite myself. "Whichever."

"Because Jason knows where to leave them." Anastasia said. "Surprisingly."

Caitlyn laughed, "And Nate doesn't know how to bite that hard."

"I have to see my family today." I pouted.

"I'd hate to be you." Anastasia said laughing.

Caitlyn was kind enough to suggest a scarf or a choker or something. "And, definitely a shirt that covers your chest completely."

I rolled my eyes as I head back into Shane's room to get dressed. Opening the drawer that had my spare clothes in it, I pulled out a pair of jeans. "Give me a hoodie, please?" I demanded.

Shane smiled as he tossed me one from his closet. He had a tie actually up wear it was supposed to be, hiding his own marks. He'd straightened his hair while I was in the shower and covering up the evidence.

"You aren't allowed to touch me until we get married." I commented, wincing as I pulled this sweat shirt over my swore neck and shoulders.

"But… that's like… forever away." He said panicked.

I smirked. "Says who?" I paused. "It's only like 5 years. After college." I said with as straight of a face as I could.

I watched his face falter slightly. "Seriously?"

I smiled at him. "I don't know. We'll see. Depends on if I survive today or not."

He just smiled and headed out to the living room.

"Shane?" I called out to him, causing him to back peddle into the bedroom again. "I don't want to tell my family, yet." He looked down, once again slightly disappointed. "I don't want them to ruin it like they do everything else."

"I get it." He said softly.

"Shane…" I sighed, moving closer to him, feeling guilty.

He smiled softly at me as he wrapped his arms around me. "It's fine. The important people know. If you don't want the world to know yet, that's absolutely fine." I could see in his eyes how much he wanted to call up every single tabloid and music magazine and station and tell them that we were engaged.

"Soon. I promise." I offered. He nodded, kissing me lightly.

"It's fine, baby." He said firmly, making sure I believed he was fine with it.

I slipped off my ring and handed it to him. "Keep it for me until then?"

He looked up at me confused. "Mitch- what…"

"I know if Steph sees it, everyone will know because she won't be quiet about it. And, if Rosie or someone at school sees it, the world will know by the end of the school day."

He nodded in understanding. He walked over to his dresser, opening the box on top of it. Pulling out the chain he'd worn my promise ring on, he slipped the engagement ring on it and clasped it around his neck.

He tucked it into his shirt as I placed my promise ring back on my ring finger. I wiggled my finger. "It feels different." I commented softly.

He smiled grabbing my head and lead me out of the room. "Anyone going to the house now, let's go. I'm leaving." Shane called out to the others.

Nate stuck his head out of his room. "Caity's still getting dressed, so we'll catch a ride with Stas."

"Who said I want you?" Anastasia asked, sticking her head out of Jason's room.

"Stas, can we catch a ride with you?"

She smiled. "Sure." And went back into Jason's room. Nate rolled his eyes at her.

My family birthday party was fine. Only Steph noticed the marks on my neck that were slightly visible. I think she was looking for them, personally.

Mom and Dad understood about me not being ready to tell people. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I was confused about the engagement. Part of me wanted to drag him down to Atlantic City and get married, and the other part wanted to tell him we were moving too fast and to propose again in five years. I didn't know if I was ready to get married. At this point, I just really wanted to get through Prom in two months.

So... remember... negativity in PM's perferably. Thanks. :) And I'm totally doing this with on ehand at the moment cause I'm petting my attention-greedy husky with the other... you try typing with only your left hand and using the mouse with your left hand... when you're a righty!